CEBU City will represent the Philippines in the inaugural EASL Future Champions Elite tournament later this month in Hong Kong.
Brix Tristan Hernando, Derreck Wenceslao, Mc Dome De Asis, and Kent Luther Labitad lead the 10-man Filipino side set to compete against top talent from Hong Kong and Macau in the July 24-26 event.
Members of the team were selected following an eight-week youth basketball development program designed to identify, develop, and elevate some of the region’s most promising young talent.
A total of 40 student-athletes selected from a competitive tryout across Cebu City were initially gathered together as part of the program – offered free of charge – that provided participants with professional coaching, structured team environments, competitive games, and access to resources designed to accelerate their development both on and off the court.
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The program was locally led by former Blackwater player and Cebu standout Joel Co, while the overall curriculum was developed by program director Michael Olson, a former pro player in Japan who then coached across Asia, as well as the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League.
An awards ceremony capped the two-month program where the members of the Cebu City team competing in Hong Kong were announced.
The event was attended by Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival, Dr. Roel Dejaño of the city's Sports Commission, and Josemaria Rafael ‘Popoy’ Navarro, Regional Director for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Region 7.
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